21 firefighters graduate from 50th county fire academy [Video]

DAVID YAMAMOTO/SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Graduates carry a dummy out of a third-story window and down a ladder during a building fire demonstration at the Ventura County Fire Department’s training academy graduation Friday in Camarillo.

Twenty one trainees graduated Friday from the Ventura County Fire Department's 50th academy and got to show off their new skills in front of friends and relatives.

During the demonstration at the Regional Training Center at the Camarillo Airport, trainees showed how they would put out a vehicle fire, rescue people trapped in a car and save someone from a burning building.

"The amount of information firefighters have to know has changed drastically over the years," said Capt. Mike Lindbery, who explained what the trainees were doing while a captive audience watched.

"The academy is only the beginning. These firefighters will be in training for the next 30 years, or as long as they are around."

Most of the trainees will join the county department. Two will work for the city of Ventura Fire Department.

Many of the graduates have higher education degrees, served in the military or have previous fire service experience.

The trainees participated in a graduation ceremony Friday afternoon and received their department badges.

"This is a fantastic career," Lindbery said, congratulating the graduates and their loved ones.

New firefighter Alexandra Johnson, 24, of Camarillo, said it was "awesome" that her parents and friends could watch as she and her fellow graduates demonstrated their new skills.

"Every one of us worked so hard, even beyond the 18 weeks," she said.

Johnson's father, Edward Johnson, is a captain in the Los Angeles County Fire Department and said he was proud of his daughter. He remembered that Alexandra wanted to be a firefighter from a young age.

"There is a certain sense of accomplishment for both of us," he said.

Ann Michelle McKinley went to the demonstration with her 6-year-old son, Luke, who was dressed like a firefighter. She was there to support her friend, Brett Phillips.

Luke's favorite part was when the firefighters found and rescued a person from a burning building. "It was very cool that the fire department let us see this," his mother said.

Duncan Shuler, 26, of Thousand Oaks, was in the Marines for four years and also was a wildland firefighter before graduating from the academy Friday. His wife, Katie Shuler, 26, said she was impressed with the firefighter demonstration — her first time seeing her husband in action.

"To see it all come together like this is surreal," she said. "I'm just so proud of him."